Bag mouth trimming and creasing device



Jane 10, 1941.

H. G. ALLEN BAG MOUTH TRIMMING AND CREASING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1940 5 She etS-Sheet l INVENTOR M @.M ATTORNEY .m, a m

June 10, 1941. ALLEN 2,245,063

BAG MOUTH TRIMMING AND CRfi ASING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 g l l a zrd $22272 ATTO R N EY June 10, 1941.

H. G. ALLEN BAG MOUTH TRIMMING AND CREASING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1941 BAG MOUTH TRIMIVIING AND CREASING DEVICE Howard G. Allen, Niagara Falls, N. Y., assignor to Consolidated Packaging Machinery Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 25, 1940, Serial No. 347,377

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bag sealing machines and particularly seeks to provide a novel apparatus for trimming the end of a collapsed bag mouth and simultaneously creasing the collapsed bag mouth to define closure folds preparatory to manual sealing.

Heretofore filled paperbags have been closed and sealed through the use of automatic or semiautomatic machines which performed all'operations incident to closure forming, or have been completely sealed by hand. It has been found extremely diiiicult for small packaging mills, handling limited quantities of materials, to employ closing and sealing machines of the fully automatic or semi-automatic types due to the prohibitive cost of such machines considered with relation to the quantity of material handled. Therefore, the relatively small packaging mills have been forced to close and seal the paper bags in which their products are placed entirely by hand. This manual closing of filled bags results in nonuniform closures in successive bags as there is nothing used by the operator by which a closure may be accurately defined.

This invention seeks to overcome the above mentioneddifliculties heretofore encountered in the manual sealing of bags through the use of novel apparatus capable of accurately defining the folds from which the closure is to be formed whereby an operator who is manually closing and sealing a plurality of bags can effect closures of uniform appearance.

Therefore an object of this invention is to provide novel apparatus for trimming the end of a collapsed bag mouth and simultaneously forming a plurality of closure fold defining creases whereby subsequent manual closing and sealing of the bag by an operator will be facilitated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which includes a main frame, a bag supporting table adjustably mounted on the frame, a stationarily mounted creasing and trimming anvil supported by said main frame and disposed in proximity to a bag supported on said table, and devices movable relative to said stationary anvil and associated therewith for first bending the collapsed mouth of a bag over the creasing and trimming anvil and then trimming the end of said collapsed bag mouth and'simultaneously creasing said collapsed bag mouth to thereby accurately form closure fold defining creases.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated in which the movable creasing and trimming elements thereof are adapted to be actuated by an operator through the medium of foot treadle andlinkage connections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated in which movement of the foot actuated treadle first positions the movable creasing and trimming elements into registry with the stationary 'anvil and then moves said creasing and trimming elements into operative engagement with said anvil to thereby effect a trimming and creasing of a collapsed bag mouth disposed therebetween. p,

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the nature of which will become more apparent, the invention will be more fully understood byreference to the drawings, the accompanyin detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawings: I w

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a bag mouth trimming and creasing machine constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; p

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper end of the machine;

FigS.6 and 7 are detail sectional views illustrating the steps in trimming and creasing a collapsed bag mouth.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the step of applying adhesive to the bag preparatory to forming the closure; and c Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the upper portion of a bag and shows the completed closure.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention as illustrated is embodied in a bag mouth creasing and trimming machine including a base 5 having front and rear walls 6, 6, and walls 1, I, and a top 8. The base 5 is provided with a pair of spaced upstanding bosses 9, 9 formed integral with the top 8 and which rigidly support a pair of upwardly extending hollow standards l0 and II respectively. p p

The upper ends of the standards Ill and l I are respectively provided with forwardly extending mounting lugs l2, 12 to which are secured the ends of a horizontally disposed cross bar I3. A

blade, thereby defining a groove ll adapted to.

receive a movable creasing blade as will be hereinafter described. A stationary trimming blade I8 is located centrally between the standards l9 and II and is disposed adjacent therear faceof the cross bar l3. The creasing blade Iii, the spacing element It, and the trimming blade 18 are collectively secured to the cross bar 13 as by bolts [9. The above described assembly forms a combined creasing and trimming anvil over which a collapsed bag mouth is adapted to be disposed. p s r A vertical shaft 20 is rttatamyand slidably supported in upper and lower bushings 21 secured within the standard Hi and is of such length that itsl pper 'enfd projects above the top of the associated standard, and its lower end extends downwardly into the base 5. .A supporting bracket 22 is secured't'o the adjacent end wall 1 and is provided with a shelf portion 23 extending under the lower end of the shaft 29. The shelf portion 23 isprovided with a co-unterbore adapted to receive the -co'nical end of a headed stud 24. The stud l4 isfreely fitted in an axial new te s) p ovide n t e. ow end of the shaft 20 and is' constantly urged away from the shaft by a compression spring 25 interposed between the shaft and thehead of the stud Thus the shaft i fl 'yieldablysupported in a normal r g p sitio bril shelf per v 23 of the bracketZZ "and the associated spring urged stud 24 but may be depressed at will against the resistance of the spring 25. Upward mov me t of the tii is fimiied i' e eee l1a disfi ured. i ere eW the wer ndet h tassp i tedl ia rdJ01. h upper oi cti i n efth sh t .20 i provided with an arm 21 adjustably secured thereio- .T fhe em 2 P. 1 .-W l a a wardly projecting extension 28 which forms mounting means for the movable trimming and creasing elements. A creasing blade 22 is: seed o sid ih mqun n ex ens t n and has its lower edge disposed below the p'lane of th b ttom f the..,mqi .n n ex ension-1A trimmin knife Sills secured to the other side of the mounting extension and is provided with a c tt n e e. .1. a sular rfli qs l w t ne of t e om of the mount ng x ns on:

The mounting extensionfidcarries a dependi P ser t 3 Vi es. Ei fil r el m unte r n. throu h the me ium pf bel s. 3 freely s n v thr u t e 1 9ti r. a i -v h P e s r fee 27 rie da lr ur ed d w ar compressionsprings 34 interposed between the mou in e ens on a d hepr s f t a d are respectively retained in position 'by relatively rt ds 3. jp wnwardmov t. of the P sse fo .u denth om ine i fl e o gravity and the springs 35 is limited by stop pins 36 secured in the mounting bolts 33. K

y ref r n to F s-, an fth d wi it'will be seen that .the normal position of the mo ntin ex ens on LZBa id t e p i e reasw ing blade and trimming knife is projecting forwardly from the standard [0. In thi normal between the lug 53v and the shaft '20 and has one end adjustably secured to the lug53 through the position it is desirable to enclose the movable creasing and trimming elements within a housing to protect the operator. In this connection a bracket 3! is rigidly secured to one side of the standard Iii and supports an open ended housing or guard 33 which spans the movable creasing and trimming elements in the normal position.

In order that the above described creasing blade 29 and trimming knife may be effective to perform creasing and trimming operations on the mouth of a bag, the shaft 20 must first be rotated through approximately 90 of angular movement to bring the creasing blade 28 into registry with the groove ll of the anvil and to bring the trimming knife 30 into registry with the trimming blade l8 of the anvil, and then must be depressed axially to bring the creasing blade '23 and the trimming knife 39 into active engagement with the respective portions of the anvil.

Footactuated devices areemplc-yed to effect the compound movement of the shaft 20 and include a pairof lugs 39, 33 respectively secured to theendjwalls l, 1 of the base and projecting rearwardly beyond the rear Wall. '6. A rod is mounted on the lugs 39 and extends across the space, therebetween and carries a sleeve rotatably mounted thereon. One end of the sleeve 41 is provided with a forwardly projecting extension 742 to which issecured a foot treadle generally indicated at 43. It should be noted that the foot treadle 43 extends through an opening 44 formed in the rear wall 6 of the base and through a larger opening (not shown) in the front wall of the base and. projects forwardly therebeyo'ndl The other end of the sleeve 4| is provided with an arm 45 rigidly secured thereto and projecting through an opening 46 in the rear wall 6 into the base. Thearrn 45 is disposed intermediate the shaft 20 and the adjacent end wall Acam plate!" is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a rod 48 extending between the end walls I and is maintained in spaced relation from the end wall adjacent the shaft 20 by a sleeve 49 fitted over the rod. Thecam plate 4.1 is provided witha cam slot having an'upper forwardly incl,inedportion 50 and a lower substantially vertical portion 5|. The cam slot is engaged by a stud cam follower52 secured to the. forward end of the arm 45. flhe upper end of the cam plate 41 is provided with a laterally extendinglug 53 removablysecured thereto. A chain 54 extends mediumof bolt and nut connections generally indicated at 55, and vit's other end connected to the shaft 26 as at 56., It should be noted that a that end of the chain Which is secured to the shaft 2 is disposed in surface contact with the shaft through a sector. of. approximately 45 so that pulling effort applied to the chain will effect a partial rotation of the shaft.

Thus it will .be seen that depressing of the treadle 33 will likewise depress the forward end of the arm 45 and the cam follower 52 mounted thereon will partake of movement relative to the cam plate 41. Downwardmovment of the follower 52 through the inclined slot portion 50 will cause the cam plate to rock forwardly about the pivot rod 48 and will effect a pulling action on the chain 54 to partially rotate the shaft 26 and bring the creasing and trimming elements into registry with the stationary anvil assembly.

bag preparatory to forming the closure thereof, a main frame comprising a base and a pair of upwardly extending standards mounted on said base, a horizontally disposed combined creasing and trimming anvil secured to said standards adjacent the upper ends thereof, a shaft rotatably and slidably journalled within one of said standards, said shaft being of such length that the upper end thereof extends above the standard associated therewith and the lower end thereof pr jects downwardly into said base, means for yieldably supporting said shaft in a normal raised position, a creasing and trimming assembly secured to said shaft adjacent the upper end thereof and being normally disengaged from and out of registry with said anvil, and means connected with the lower end of said shaft and effective to first impart a movement of rotation thereto to thereby swing said creasing and trimming assembly into registry with said anvil and to then move said shaft axially against the resistance of said yieldable support to thereby bring said assembly into active engagement with said anvil whereby a collapsed bag mouth interposed therebetween will be creased and trimmed.

4. In a manually actuated devicefor trimming andcreasing the collapsed mouth of a filled paper bag preparatory to forming the closure thereof, a main frame comprising a base having front and rear walls, end walls and a top, and a pair of vertical standards mounted on the top of said base; a combined creasing and trimming anvil secured to said standards adjacent the upper ends thereof and including a horizontally disposed mounting bar, a stationary trimming blade secured adjacent one side of said mounting bar, and

a stationary creasing blade securedradjacent the other side of said mounting'bar and rigidly maintained in spaced relation relative thereto thereby defining a crease receiving groove; a shaft rotatably and slidably carried by one of said standards; a creasing and trimming assembly secured to said shaft adjacent the upper end thereof, said assembly including a creasing blade adapted to be received by the groove of said anvil and a trimming knife adapted to be brought into shearing relation relative to the trimming blade of said anvil, said assembly being normally disengaged from and out of registry with said anvil; and means connected with said shaft for first imparting a movement of rotation thereto to thereby swing said creasing and trimming assembly into registry with said anvil and for then moving said shaft axially to thereby bring said assembly into active engagement with said anvil whereby a collapsed bag mouth interposed therebetween will be creased and trimmed.

5. In a manually actuated device for trimming and creasing the collapsed mouth of a filled paper bag preparatory to forming the closure thereof, a main frame comprising a base having front and rear walls, end walls and a top, and a pair of vertical standards mounted on the top of said base; a combined creasing and trimming anvil secured to said standards adjacent the upper ends thereof and including a horizontally disposed mounting bar, a stationary trimming blade secured adjacent one side of said mounting bar, and a stationary creasing blade secured adjacent the other side of, said mounting bar and rigidly maintained in spaced relation relative thereto thereby defining a crease receiving groove; a shaft rotatably and slidably carried by one of said standards; means for yieldably supporting said shaft in a normal raised position, a creasing and trimming assembly securedto said shaft adjacent the upper end thereof, said assembly including a creasing blade adapted to be received by the groove of said anvil and a trimming knife adapted to be brought into shearing relation relative to the trimming blade of said anvil, said assembly being normally disengaged from and out of registry with said anvil; and means connected with said shaft for first imparting a movement of rotation thereto to thereby swing said creasing and trimming assembly into registry with said anvil and for then moving said shaft axially against the resistance of said yieldable supporting means to thereby bring said assembly into active engagement with said anvil whereby a collapsed bag mouth interposed therebetween will be creased and trimmed.

HOWARD G. ALLEN.

j Swinging movement of the creasing and trimthing-elements may be accurately limited to the position of registry over the anvil through the use of an abutment device located on top of the standard II. The abutment includes a cap member' 51 secured to the upper end of the standard and which is provided with an upstanding shoulder 58 housing a spring urged plunger 59 against which the end of the trimming blade is adapted to abut. Adjusting means, indicated at 60, may be provided to vary the compression against the plunger 59-to thereby regulate the exact position of registry of the trimming and creasing elements. Lowering of'the trimming and creasing elements into active engagement with the anvil assembly'is effected by downward axial displacement of the shaft 20. The shaft 20 is provided with an abutment annulus 6| adjustably secured thereto, and located adjacent the .lower end thereof. The abutment annulus BI is engageable with a roller 62 carried by a stud 63 rigidly secured to the arm 45.

Continued depressing movement of the arm 45 under the action of the treadle 63 causes the cam follower 52 to enter the lower slot portion 5| in the cam plate, and pivotal movement of the cam plate about the pivot 48 ceases. At this time the roller follower'52, carried by the arm 45, is broughtinto engagement with the annulus 6| and downward movement of the shaft 20 results. I

Return movement of the treadle 43 to its normal upper position is effected by a tension spring 64 extending between the treadle arm and the top 8 of the base; and'return movement of the trimming and creasing elements .to the normal forwardly projectingposition is effected through the medium of chain and tension spring connections generally indicated at 65 extending between the shaft 20 and the far end wall 1 of the base.

A vertically adjustable horizontally disposed bag supporting table 66 is carried by a mounting bracket 6! releasably secured between the standards I and H. The table 66 is provided with a vertically disposed guide or stop plate 68 mounted on the top thereof for forward and rearward adjustment through the medium of bolt and wing nut connections 69.

In using a bag mouth creasing and trimming machine constructed in accordance with this invention, the table 66 is first vertically adjusted so that the distance between the bottom of the stationary anvil assembly and the top of the table is substantially equal or slightly greater than the distance from the bottom of a filled bag to the shouldersformed by tucking the gussets and collapsing the bag mouth. Then the stop plate 68 is horizontally adjusted so that one wall of a bag will abut thereagainst when the upstanding collapsed bag mouth is disposed along the edge of the lip portion l of the anvil crease blade H (see Fig. 3).

An operator places a filled bag on the table 66, tucks the gussets, collapses the bag mouth, and then slides the bag rearwardly against the stop plate 68 so that one top shoulder portion thereof is disposed beneath the anvil assembly, and the collapsed upstanding bag mouth is disposed adjacent the crease blade [5. He then depresses the treadle 43 to swing the movable trimming and creasing elements into registry with the anvil. The swinging movement of the trimming and creasing elements displaces the collapsed upstanding bag mouth to a position of the bag, after which the treadle 43 is released to allow the machine partsto return to their initial positions and to free the creased and trimmed bag mouth for folding and sealing to complete the closure as indicated in Fig.7 9 of the drawings. v

It should here be noted that, in order to facilitate the formation of bag closures, the cross bar I3 may be provided with a lateral extension "ll upon which a glue pot 12 may be mounted thereby furnishing a supply of adhesive at a position convenient to the operator. 7 r

Thus it will be seen that the herein described invention provides novel apparatus for trimming the end of a collapsed bag mouth and simultaneously forming one or more closure fold defining creases; which is simple in design, rugged in con struction and which facilitates the manual closing and sealing of filled paper bags.

I It is of course to be understood that certain details of arrangeme nt and proportions of parts may be variously modified without exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

-I claim:

1. In a manually actuated device for trimming and creasing the collapsed mouth of a filled paper bag preparatory to forming the closure thereof, a main frame comprising a base and a pair of upwardly extending standards mounted on said base, a horizontally disposed' combined creasing and trimming anvil secured to said standards adjacent the upper ends thereof, a movable creasing and trimming assembly carried by one of said standards and being normally disengaged from and out of registry with said anvil, and means for first moving said creasing and trimming assembly into registry with said anvil and for then moving said assembly into active engagement with said anvil whereby a collapsed bag mouth interposed therebetween will be creased and trimmed.

2. In a manually actuated device for trimming and creasing the collapsed mouth of a filled paper bag preparatory to forming the closure thereof, a main frame comprising a base and a pair of upwardly extending standards mounted on said base, a horizontally disposed combined creasing and trimming anvil secured to said standards adjacent the upper ends thereof, a shaft rotatably and slidably carried by one of said standards, a creasing and trimming assembly mounted adjacent the upper end of said shaft and being normally disengaged from and out of registry with said anvil. and means efiective to first impart a movement of rotation to said shaft to thereby swing said creasing and trimming assembly into registry with said anvil and to then move said shaft axially to thereby bring said assembly into active engagement with said anvil whereby a collapsed bag mouth interposed therebetween will be creased and trimmed.

3. In a manually actuated device for trimming and creasing the collapsed mouth of a filled paper 

